As a measure of population growth, Birmingham's net gain was barely a blip – 672 people between July 2012 and July 2013. Mobile's was even more modest: The city added 11 people, for a .01 percent growth rate.

For city leaders in both places, though, the population estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau are important not for the quantity but the direction. Both cities have struggled with declining populations for years.

"If it's an indication of a trend, we would be excited, because we're talking about how to grow the city," Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said.

For Mobile, it was the second straight census estimate that showed growth. The city added 131 residents between 2011 and 2012.

Experts, however, cautioned against making too much of one or two mid-census estimates.

"I would really want to look at several years and how much it really has changed," said Yanyi Djamba, the director of Auburn University Montgomery's Center for Demographic Studies. "I think it's too soon to celebrate."

Indeed, both cities remain below their 2010 census populations.

Still, civic leaders in Birmingham and Mobile are hopeful that after years of decline, the state's urban centers are on the precipice of a revival.

"There is definitely a movement of people back into the urban areas, including Birmingham," said Dave Rickey, a spokesman for the Birmingham Business Alliance. "Through the concerted effort led by Birmingham Mayor William Bell, the uptick is not unexpected."

Rickey said cities across American are experiencing new housing development, commercial construction and business investment.

"All of those things are happening in Birmingham now," he said.

The story of Alabama's other two major cities is one of polar opposites. Huntsville's population rose to 186,254 last year. No Alabama city has added more people since 2010 – 6,149.

On the other hand, no Alabama city has lost more residents that Montgomery, which is down by 4,432 people since 2010. It declined by another 1.58 percent between mid-2012 and 2013.

Djamba attributed much of the decline to retirees leaving the city after they finish their careers.

Mayor Todd Strange said his city has been hit by government spending cuts at the state and federal levels. The across-the-board federal budget cuts forced reductions at the flight training school at Maxwell Air Force Base, he said.

"Because of sequestration, because of the military drawdown, there are less students coming through," he said.

Strange said a reduction of about 5,000 state government jobs also has had an impact since Montgomery is home to nearly 3 in 4 state workers.

The mayor, though, cited the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report indicating that the city gained 1,600 nonfarm jobs, while the other three major cities lost private sector jobs. He also pointed out that sales tax revenue is near its $98 million peak since he took office in 2008.

"While population decline does concern us, it is explainable," he said.

Interactive map: Growing and shrinking Alabama cities

Hover over the Alabama cities below to see population change since 2010. Green circles mean the cities have grown since 2010, red circles indicate population decline and gray circles indicate little change. The deeper the color, the greater the change. The size of the circles corresponds to the size of the cities: Larger circles indicate more populous cities.